The Polk XRT12 is being moved from the bedroom system to the HT system. Well working on the cabinets today I decided to set the XM radio up by running if through the Sony HD. I found a problem with the argon-gas which all of the solarium glass is filled with, the XM signal does not seem to like it at all.

Since I will be starting on a complete re-wiring of the HT system later this week, I ordered a 50' cable from Polk and will be installing the antena on the exterior of the south wall, this will give me 100% of the sigal reception and solve the glass problem. Just another small project to what seems at endless list at this point.

So anyone that has thermal windows with argon, you may encounter the same issue.

This came from XMFan.com, it appears windows with certain types of coatings will not allow XM to pass.

"However, there are some cases where you can get your portable to recieve reception inside the house. The XM satellites use a powerful signal that can blast through snow, rain, and even wood. However, this signal isn't the alpha and the omega, so it can't get through metal, concrete, flesh, etc. You won't be recieving direct satellite signal in a warehouse, your basement, or any building made of steel. Even if you are near a south facing window, many windows and their coatings (tinting, UV coating, etc) will completely block a satellite signal. You probably won't be getting it in your gym, office, or home UNLESS you have a terrestrial repeater nearby. However, if you are in a building with a wooden roof, you may be able to pull in a signal."

The solarium is on the south side of the house, and yes, XM recommends a southern direction for the antenna. In the testing we done, we can move it from the solarium glass to a regular window about 2' away and have the four full bars.

Another test we decided to try was opening one of awning windows in the solarium, with the window open about 12", held the antenna on the exterior side of the glass....full four bar reception, when the antenna was moved to the interior side of the glass, nada, zilch, no signal at all. The only differance from the regular themal window with low E glass where the antenna has full reception and the solarium glass where it has no reception is the argon gas. So if it is not the gas then perhpas I have a poltergeist in the solarium.

Dennis, though there has been speculation on the XM forum that argon gas may cause the problem, as you can see from Randy's post, if your windows are tinted to protect against glare, the tinting is often a thin coating of metal, which could well be the cause of the signal loss. Regardless, you aren't the only one that has had this problem.